CASPER — For the first two quarters it appeared as if the Rams were done playing basketball for the year.

Knocked into the third-fourth place game by eventual 2A boys runner-up Lusk Friday night, the Rams played Thermopolis early Saturday afternoon, seeing a similar hot-shooting squad that put them there.

Rams senior Matthew Wigglesworth willed his team to a third place finish Saturday with 31 points in the 76-69 win, helping the Rams with a run in the third quarter that cut the Thermopolis lead to four. Big Horn outscored Thermopolis 22-11 in the final period, earning the third-place finish.

The Rams trailed at the half 40-32 as Thermopolis’ outside shooters pushed the score nearly out of reach on the testing final day of a three-day tournament. Thermopolis was six of 19 from 3-point land, while the Rams hit just one of their seven attempts.

Thermopolis hit four of those in the first half.

Thermopolis shot just 16 of 46 Saturday from the field, while the Rams were 29 of 57 shooting.

Despite the semifinal loss, the Rams won 15 of their final 17 games, including a 2A East Regional title last weekend.

Wigglesworth was named 2A Northeast Player of the Year, and was joined by Mort and Connor McCafferty on this year’s 2A All-Conference team.

Tongue River’s Matt Yellowtail was also named 2A All-Conference out of Sheridan County.

A-C girls 46, Burlington 54

CASPER — The Arvada-Clearmont Lady Panthers season finished in the consolation final at the state 1A girls state tournament Saturday morning.

The Lady Panthers fought Burlington, leading early in the second half, but eventually Burlington took the lead and pulled away for a 54-46 win. A-C’s sixth place finish followed a third place one at the 1A East regional last weekend.

Bailey Roebling was named to the girls 1A All-Conference team and also 1A Northeast Player of the Year.

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